Saturday, January 1, 2011

Whatever the price of onion is, the D.A will not be as sweet as July last year.

As per the All India Index published by Labour Bureau, Govt. of India the Dearness Allowance payable to the Central Govt.staff with effect from January 2011 may not be more than 6 percent.

The figure for Nov'10 has just released and it stands at 182. The December figure is expected in the end of January. Even if the figure touches 185 in December, which is very unlikely, the D.A. hike will be limited to 6%.

Only thing to cheer is the fixed allowances such as Children Education Allowance, Conveyance Allowance for some category of staff will be 25% more as the D.A. will certainly cross the 50% mark. It may be remembered that D.A. linked allwances such as Transport Allowances will be unchanged.

Nothing to be very cheerful as DA is not going to be more than 6 percent. However DA may be 7 percent if AICIPIN for December cross 187 mark which is unlikely. But trade union should demand for merging of 50 percent DA with Basic once DA crosses 50 percent.

The 6CPC had given quite a relief to CG Pensioners by way of Revised Pension. The relief, however, has been more than completely negated by the spiraling prices, especially of food items.The 6CPC has made a provision for serving personnel for merging the basic pay with the DA once it crossed 50%. The weakest of the GC employees, Pensioners, have been left out of this provision.As things now stand, Pensioners are dipping into their emergency savings funds for mere survival.This again is violative of the Govt's own definition of Pension which is to enable the retired personnel to live a Life of dignity in keeping with their life-style during Service.Leave alone the erstwhile life style, it is becoming increasingly difficult just to keep alive.To top it all, the Govt brain bank seems incapable of finding any solution to the food price inflation. Every major spurt in price rise has invariably been tackled on a fire fighting basis, with expectedly poor results.What, if anything, is the Govt doing if not governing?